A prospective randomized comparison of irradiated and non-irradiated hamstring tendon allograft for ACL reconstruction

78 patients who required ACL reconstruction who were undergoing surgery with hamstring allografts were randomized to receive irradiated or non-irradiated hamstring allografts to determine the effect irradiation has on the biomechanical properties of the graft. Knee function, knee stability, patient satisfaction, activity level, and development of osteoarthritis were assessed for an average of 42.5 months. The results indicated that irradiated grafts provided inferior stability and greater laxity when compared to non-irradiated grafts; however, there were no differences in functional scores between the two groups.